Homer rogers



(No Model.)

H. ROGERS.

No. 513,622. i

HEEL.

Patentd Jan. 30, 1894 WTNEESEE:

NHTED STATES HOMER ROGERS, OF BOSTON, ASSIGNOR TO S. H. HOWE, TRUSTEE, OF MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Ne. 513,622, dated January 30, 1894:.

Application filed April 24. 1893. Serial No. &71,681. (Ne model.)

To all whom it may con/earn;

Be it known that I, HOMER ROGERS, of Boston, in the county of Sulfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot or Shoe Heels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boot or shoe heels, the top-lifts of which are nailed or Secured to the heel and also ornamented by metal slugs, so called, said slugs presenting metal heads, so disposed on the outer surface of the toplift as to give an ornanental appearance thereto. Heretofore the slugs have been composed of nails adapted to be driven into the material of the heel, the outer ends or heads of the nails being given the desired ornamental form.

v The shanks, or portionsof the nails which are driven into the heel, have heretofore been made quite thick and bulky, in keeping with the heads, which are necessarily of considerable area in order to present the desired ornamental appearance. It is customary to arrange the slugs close together, in a row extending'parallel with the margin of the toplift. The necessarily thick and bulky form of the slugs not only makes them expensive, but, also involves the following objections: First, the close proximity of the slugs to each other, and the thickness orbulk of theirshan ks, cause a considerable displacement of the material of the heel by the slugs, so that, after the slugs are driven, the margin and the treadsurface of the heel are considerably displaced and caused to bulge out, so that it is necessary to dress off the bulging surfaces after the slugs have been driven, this involving considerable extra labor and expense; secondly, the sings, which enter the heel a considerable distance, are liable to interfere with the usual nails which attach the heel to the heel-seat of the boot or sl'oe, the slugs being stiff and infiexible on account of their necessary bulk, so that, if any of them strikes one of the usual blind nails in the heel, it (the slug) is displaced or inclined so that its outer end or head does not occupy the desired position.

My invention has for its object, first, to reduce the cost of slugged heels; and, secondly,

' to obviate the above-described objections, and

to these ends it consists in a heel provided with thin staple-shaped metal slugs, comprising central portions or necks bearing on the external surface of the top-lift, and thin metal spurs which are driven into the heel and secure the top-lif t, each slug being made of wire so that it is much cheaper than ordinary slugs, and provided with two independent spurs, so 'that each spur can be made very much thinner than the shank of an ordinary single slug. The driving of the thin spurs into the material of the heel is not attended with any injurious displacement of the material of the heel; while the flexibility of the spurs, eaused by their thinness, enables then to separate or bend in opposite directions and thus firmly engage the heel, and to readily yield or bend* in case they come in contact with the blind nails of the heel, without at all affecting the position of the exposed portions of the slugs; all of which I will now prceed to more fully describe.

Of the acconpanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a heel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the same.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both of the figures.

In the drawings, a represents the body of a boot or shoe heel, and a' the top-lift thereof, the heel being attached to the boot or shoe by the usual nails b. the outer ends of which project slightly outside of the body of the heel, so that they constitute the usual blind. nails to which the top-lift is Secured by forcing it upon the projecting ends of the nails, said ends being embedded in the top-lift, as shown in Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention I `employ staple-shaped slugs which ornament the outer surface of the top-lift and additionally secure the top-lift to the body of the heel. Each slug is composed of a length of thin, metal wire, bent into staple form and including a central portion c formed to bear upon the outer surface of the top-lift, and Spurs c' c' which are adapted to penetrate the top-lift and fasten the same securely to the heel. The slgsare attached to the heel by forcing the Spurs into the top-lift and into the body of the heel, as indicated in Fig. 2. The central portions c are radially arranged as shown in Fig. 1, so

IOO

that they ornanent the heel like ordinary sings.

It will be seen that, as each slug is provided with two Spurs for attachment to the heel, said spurs can be made so thin that when driven into the heel, they will not displace the material of the heel to such an extent as to cause protuberances requiring removal. It will also be seen that the flexibility of the spurs will enable them to yield or bend readily, in case they encounter the blind nails b, without in any way affecting the position of the slugs.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the distance between the two spurs of each slug is sufficient to enable the spurs to readily avoid the blind nails b, the latter being located between the spurs. I do not limit myself, however, to this arrangenent, although it is a convenient and desirable one.

Iprefer to make the slugs c of .drawn wire which is flat in cross section, the wire being cut into suitable length and bent into staple form. The spurs thus made have the requisite flexibility to enable them to act as above described.

In practice, the Spurs bend or clinch in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the attached slugs are securely interlocked with the heel.

The staple-shaped slugs are so much less expensive than the ordinary slugs, that the expense of slugging a heel is reduced about one half by my invention.

I claim- A boot or shoe heel, having blind-nails; a top-lift Secured by said blind-nails; and staple-shaped slugs, the central portions or necks of which are radially arranged on the treadsurface of the top-lift, while the prongs or Spurs pass through the top-lift and additionally secure the latter, said spurs being thin and flexible so that they may be driven without injuriously displacing the material of the top-lift and heel and without injurious contact with the blind-nails, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 18th day of April, A. D. 1893.

I-IOMER ROGERS. Witnesses:

ALBERT I. Y. MAOADAM, JAMES H. WILLIAMs. 

